Chromatic aerial top



May 19, 1953 F L 2,638,703

CHROMATIC AERIAL TOP Filed March 11, 1948 F9 3 INVENTOR,

Patented May 19, 1953 UNITE D STAT PAT E N T F FICE.

CHROMATIC AERIAL TOP Frank R. Iligley, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application March 11, 1948, Serial'No. 14,250

-8 Claims.

This invention relates tochromatic devices for instructive or amusement purposes employing a plurality of chromatic discs, mounted eccentrically' of a common axis about which they are supported and driven for shifting adjustment on their individual axes, as responsive to inertia, in maintained indexed relation with each other the discs bearing primary colors in sectorially related areas on their faces and the visual pattern produced in operation including an annular band, about a circular area, one of a primary color and the other of secondary color, attained by mixingsuperposition of the other primary colors.

The invention relates to the discs themselves and the disc assembly rather than the support and drive means for the assembly, examples of such means appearing in the patent to Van Altena, No. 194,628, August 28, 1877, wherein appears a string-operated reversing device, my

Patent No. 2,440,747, issued May t, 1948, wherein appears a traction drive, and Patent No. 2,181,184 issued to me November 28, 1939, wherein appears a double string support and drive arrangement. i

The invention more particularly contemplates such devices wherein the discs employed are disposed in partially overlapping relation, such as in the two-disc arrangements disclosed in my said patent; and general objects of the invention are improvementes in the discs and indexing means therefor, in devices such as therein disclosed.

More particularly, this invention embraces a pair of annular discs having such proportioning and overlapping disposition that a substantial face area of the rearward one is visible through the central opening of the near one.

Other objects are to preserve the face areas of the discs against impairment from operation of the device, by the simple expedient of dishing the discs as will appear; the provision of novel means for interconnecting and mounting the discs which shall be relatively invisible, obscuring a minimum of chromatic face area; to positively actuate the discs for rotation about their common axis while maintaining positive indexing therebetween during pattern changes; and to provide improved weight and color distribution about the common axis, with drive applied closely adjacent thereto.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front view of, an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail taken in the plane of" line 2 -2;, Fig. l, butv showing pertinent parts only in sufiicient plane;

Fig. 3' is a sectional detail as in the plane line 3-3, Fig. 1;. and i Fig. at a detail, partly in section and not to scale, showing a modified form of rotary memher.

With reference now to the drawings and first to Fig. 1 thereof. I and 2 are a pair of similar discs each having the diameter of its. central opening slightly greater than its radial width, so that the disks may be disposed as illustrated in partially overlapping relation, with a point on the outer periphery of each, adjacent a point on the inner periphery of the other, adjacent portions of their inner peripheries together defining an elongated central opening.

At least the near faces of both discs bear coloring in primary colors disposed in segmental face panel areas; as here indicated by the letters R, Y, and B, the primary colors red, yellow, and.

blue being employed.

Preferably the discs are slightly dished from each other as indicated Fig. 2 so that bearing at their adjacent faces will be confined to the inner and outer peripheries thereof, and the coloring thereby preserved against impairment in service.

The discs are so disposed about their respective axes as to provide coloring symmetry about the central axis common to both discs.

Means are provided for interconnecting and mounting the discs, for rotation together about the common axis, and relative adjustment rotation of the discs about their individual axes, while maintaining their chromatic indexed relation.

For the purpose, a generally flat member 4 is disposed between the discs,'extending between end portions located at the interstices formed at the two crossing or intersecting portions of the outer peripheries of the discs. Preferably, this member 4 is of transparent material so as to be relatively invisible where exposed by the central openings of the discs and the elongated central opening common to both discs.

At its ends the member is provided with means engaging the adjacent disc peripheries, without binding thereon however. As here shown, eyelets are employed for the purpose, each end flange of each eyelet slightly overlapping its adjacent disc edge portion.

The member 4 has a central opening as indi member 6.

cated in Fig. 2, in which is mounted a rotary member generally indicated at 6, having a central portion 1 extending loosely through the opening and being of somewhat greater width than the thickness of the member 4, with head portions 8 of greater diameter by which the member 6 is retained in the member 4, but with sufiicient looseness that it may assume the tilted position indicated in Fig. 2, and rotate in such position. The inner faces of the flanges provided by the heads 8 have taper as indicated in Fig. 2, to minimize resistance to rotation. As indicated in Fig. 2, the heads 8 may be press fitted onto hub portions of the portion 1, to assemble the member 6 and at the same time mount it in the member 4.

By the arrangement described, the parts being suitably proportioned and arranged for the purpose, the portion 1 of the member 6 engages the inner peripheries of the two chromatic discs for "floating action therebetween. Preferably, as indicated, these disc peripheries and the portion! are toothed so that the interengagement is positive and the aromatic indexing of the discs positively maintained.

Operation of the device, in well-known manner, may be had by its mounting upon suitable members not illustrated, extending through the eyelets 5.

effect of the strings upon the outer faces of the head members 8 of the rotary member 6 at the periods of reversal of driving direction.

It will be noted that accelerating and decelerating driving forces are applied to the discs through the member 4, at their peripheries; under such condition such force being applied to a disc through one or the other of the eyelet members 5, and the reaction taken by the central rotary Such reaction is always simultaneously applied to the rotary member by the two discs, and equally for each, the eyelets always maintaining the discs spaced 180 apart about the common axis as well as in engagement with the central rotary member 6, and hence maintaining the entire assembly of parts.

In other words, the central member 5 limits eccentricity of the discs from the central axis, and the eyelets 5 maintain their eccentricity and consequent bearing against the member 6, while at the same time the member 6 and eyelets 5 keep the discs in their general plane common to that of the member 4.

Also, it may be observed that the distribution 'of the color pattern about the center is improved over the prior art. For example, when the parts are positioned as in Fig. 1, although there are but two discs, the central area colored blue is generally of trilobate characteristic, with a lefthand lobe on the far disc, appearing through the central opening of the near disc, and a pair of lobes on the near disc spaced approximately 120 from the left-hand lobe relative to the common axis. Moreover, the yellow and red areas are spaced closer to the center and of greater angular extent thereabout than in the prior art; so that the color pattern produced in operation has improved intensity as well as improved sta-,

bility. Also, owing to the closer spacing of the disc centers than has heretofore been the practice, the delineation in the pattern, between the inner area of one color and the outer annular area of another color will be sharper than heretofore.

With reference now to Fig. 4, a modified form of rotary member is illustrated comprised of a pair of similar parts 8 generall in the form of truncated cones interconnected by an open rivet H. In such modification the members l8 may be of soft rubber, or of magnetic material with their adjacent parts of opposite polarity, and spaced to increase frictional engagement between such rotary member and the inner peripheries of the pair of discs which bear in the annular groove provided by the members [8. The parts being suitably proportioned, and the discs having no teeth at their inner peripheries, the rotary member of Fig. 4 will serve generally as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except that the indexing which it provides will be non-positive.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described: a pair of similar annular chromatic discs, each having inside diameter slightly greater than its radial width, said discs being disposed in partially overlapping relation, with a point on the outer periphery of each adjacent a point on the inner periphery of the other, adjacent portions of their inner peripheries together defining an elongated opening central of the device, and means mounting said discs so disposed for rotation about their axes and about an aXis central of said opening, said mounting means including means engaging the outer peripheries of said discs, at intersecting portions thereof, for driving said discs about said axis, and also including relatively rotatable means engaging the inner peripheries of said discs.

2. In a device of the class described: a pair of similar annular chromatic discs, each having inside diameter slightly greater than its radial Width, said discs being disposed in partially overlapping relation, with a point on the outer periphery of each adjacent a point on the inner periphery of the other, adjacent portions of their inner peripheries together defining an elongated opening central of the device, and means mounting said discs so disposed for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening and for the purpose engaging both discs at their inner and outer peripheries, said peripheries being disposed substantially in a common plane, and said discs being oppositely dished from said plane.

3. In a device of the class described: a pair of simila annular chromatic discs, each having inside diameter slightly greater than its radial width, said discs being disposed in partially overlapping relation, with a point on the outer periphery of each adjacent a point on the inner periphery of the other, adjacent portions of their innner peripheries together defining an elongated opening central of the device, and means mounting said discs so disposed for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including a member extending transversely of said discs between locations adjacent portions of their outer peripheries and having engagement with both said outer peripheries at both said locations, and said mounted on said member at said axis and having engagement with the inner peripheries of said discs for floating movement therebetween.

i. In a device of the class described: a pair of similar annular segmentally tricolored chromatic discs, each having inside diameter slightly greater than its radial width, said discs being disposed in chromatic symmetry and partially overlapping relation, with a point on the outer periphery of each adjacent a point on the inner periphery of the other, adjacent portions of their inner peripheries together defining an elongated opening central of the device, and means mounting said discs so disposed for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including a member extending transversely of said discs between locations adjacent intersecting portions of their outer peripheries and having engagement with both said outer peripheries at both said locations, and said mounting means including an element rotatably mounted on said member at said axis and having engagement with the inner peripheries of said discs, said rotatably mounted member and said inner disc peripheries being toothed whereby relative disc indexing is positively maintained.

5. In a device of the class described: a pair of similar annular chromatic discs, each having inside diameter slightly greater than its radial width, said discs being disposed in paritally overlapping relation, with a point on the outer periphery of each adjacent a point on the inner periphery of the other, adjacent portions of their inner peripheries together defining an elongated opening central of the device, and means mounting said discs so disposed for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including a member extending transversely of said discs between locations adjacent crossing portions of their outer peripheries and having engagement with both said outer peripheries at both said locations, said mounting means having engagement with the inner peripheries of said discs adjacent said axis, said member having a pair of mounting openings spaced along said central opening on opposite sides of said axis.

6. In a device of the class described: a pair of similar annular chromatic discs, each having inside diameter slightly greater than its radial width, said discs being disposed in partially overlapping relation, with a point on the outer periphery of each adjacent a point on the inner periphery of the other, adjacent portions of their inner peripheries together defining an elongated opening central of said device; and means mounting said discs so disposed for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including a member extending transversely of said discs between locations adjacent crossing portions of their outer peripheries and having engagement with both said outer peripheries at both said locations, said member having a central opening, and rotary means mounted within said central opening and having engagement with the inner peripheries of said discs, said rotary means having heads for maintaining its said engagement with said discs and its retention in said opening.

7. In a device of the class described: a pair of similar annular chromatic segmentally tricolored discs each having inside diameter slightly greater than its radial width, said discs being disposed in chromatic symmetry and partially overlapping relation, with a point on the outer periphery of each adjacent a point on the inner periphery of the other, and means mounting said discs so disposed, for rotation about their own axes and about an axis central of said device, while maintaining their said chromatic symmetry, said mounting means including 'a member bearing against the inner peripheries of both discs and a plurality of members bearing against the outer peripheries of said discs at spaced locations.

8. In a device of the class described: a pair of similar annular chromatic discs symmetrically disposed in partially overlapping relation, each having its inner diameter sufiiciently greater than its radial width that said discs cooperatively define a relatively small opening central of the device, and means mounting said discs so disposed, for rotation about their own axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means having a central portion disposed within said central opening to limit eccentricity of said discs from said central axis, and said mounting means also including parts confining the outer peripheries of said discs at adjacent intersecting portions thereof, to maintain the eccentricity of said discs from said central axis, to maintain them in equal distribution about said axis and to provide their drive about said axis, without preventing their rotation about their own axes.

FRANK R. HIGLEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED srrrrns PATENTS Number Name Date 880,322 Newell Feb. 25, 1908 1,692,147 Arnold Nov. 20, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 94 Great Britain Jan. 3, 1898 

